TJ Upsets Grandview in a Thriller

Previously unranked Spartans defeat fifth-ranked 5A Grandview Wolves

by Marc Houghton

In true Spartan style, the TJ football team faced its opponent head on and came out with a miraculous 34-33 double overtime victory against the Grandview Wolves on Friday night at All City Stadium.

After 5^th ranked Grandview quickly got off to a 14-0 lead, the Spartans took the momentum when Ian Squire recovered a fumble at the end of the first quarter.  A solid drive down the field led to a four yard run by Devon Fitzgerald followed by a missed extra point. Grandview running back Bo Bolen ran for a 27 yard touchdown late in the second, but TJ quarterback Michael Mankoff quickly responded with a 40 yard pass to Brandon Lowe and a 25 yard touchdown pass to Billy Sprague to end the half down 21-13.

TJ’s offense took control at the start of the second half with an enduring drive that led to a 19 yard touchdown run by Mankoff with 5:53 left in the third.  Sprague caught the pass to complete the two point conversion and tie the game at 21. 

A hard hitting, defensive battle ensued for the rest of regulation and the TJ defense was very strong against the run. Led by Matthew Mankoff, along with linebackers Squire and Adam Colean, TJ held Grandview to only 32 yards rushing in the second half. Despite quaterback Mankoff’s seven rushes for 40 yards, the TJ offense wasn’t able to score for the rest of regulation.  Things were looking down when a short punt left Grandview on the TJ 35 yard line with only two minutes left in the fourth quarter.  But the defense came up big when safety Cooper Hearne intercepted a pass with 29 seconds to go, and TJ left the score tied at 21 at the end of regulation. "We needed a big play on defense so to make that pick was awesome," said Hearne.  "Our defense has done a great job of forcing turnovers, and that one came at the right time."

The Spartans got the ball first in overtime and Fitzgerald quickly ran it in for a touchdown, but first year TJ kicker Jorge Jacal Tovar wasn’t able to convert the extra point.  Bolen rushed for a quick touchdown and only needing an extra point to win, Grandview kicker Charlie Johnson missed it wide to the left, forcing a second overtime. 

After the TJ defense stopped the wolves on three consecutive plays, Bolen scored from the 2 yard line on fourth down, but again Johnson failed to make the extra point.  Fitzgerald tied it up again with a 2 yard touchdown run, leaving the Spartans with an opportunity to win with just an extra point. 

In a heroic effort under pressure, TJ punter and fullback Ryan Allen sent it through the uprights to end the game.  “Ryan’s kick was clutch, and we had all the confidence in the world that he would make it,” said Michael Mankoff, “We were down early, but we were able to stick together as a team and pull out the win.  Hopefully this is a sign of what’s to come the rest of the season.”